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Only Toasters On The 12 Strings

Posted: Sat May 25, 2019 9:53 am
by drumbob
Both my 330-12 strings are equipped with Toasters now. Both came with Hi Gains, and I realized that I couldn't get the authentic 60's McGuinn jangle I needed with those. Luckily, I scored a set of Toasters from a friend on http://www.thegearpage.net a few weeks ago, had them installed this week on the MapleGo 330-12, and the difference is night and day.

So, my point is, Hi Gains don't work for me on Rick 12 strings, but they sound fine on my 620. Discuss.

Re: Only Toasters On The 12 Strings

Posted: Tue May 28, 2019 9:14 am
by steverok
Either. I don't see the need to be a slave to 60s jangle. I like the hi-gains.

Re: Only Toasters On The 12 Strings

Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 11:23 pm
by soundmasterg
I'm with you on the 12's - toasters all the way. I like both on the 6's. I also like both on the basses. I like flatwounds on both too, but also like nickel rounds too.

Greg

Re: Only Toasters On The 12 Strings

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2019 8:30 am
by chronictown
Overall I'd say I prefer hi-gains on a 6-string (at least vs. scatterwound toasters..pre-scat "hot" toasters are another thing entirely), but that's mostly a function of the kind of music I like to play. And it's definitely not exclusive...my favorite guitar ever is my '64 460, with toasters, and I wouldn't change a thing about it. Of course, this is all in the absence of considering different amps and amp settings, effects pedals, etc.

For 12-strings, I used to be a toaster purist but at one point I owned a '80 360/12 (with original hi-gains) and it sounded phenomenal. So I'm pretty much agnostic now! Also, I haven't had the opportunity to play around with the newer adjustable pole-piece hi-gains, on either a 6- or 12-string, so I'll reserve opinions on these for others who can chime in.

Bottom line is, you need at least four Rickenbackers to cover the basic sting# and pickup permutations, and then from there progress to the hoarding stage to cover the range of models, eras, finishes, etc. :lol:

Re: Only Toasters On The 12 Strings

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2019 9:45 am
by steverok
chronictown wrote:Bottom line is, you need at least four Rickenbackers to cover the basic sting# and pickup permutations, and then from there progress to the hoarding stage to cover the range of models, eras, finishes, etc. :lol:
This. There is no such thing as too many Rics. Great username / handle, by the way.

Re: Only Toasters On The 12 Strings

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2019 2:56 pm
by chronictown
Thanks! Yep, I'd probably pick up at least one a month if I had the time and, more importantly, the means.

It's madness, for sure, but a good, harmless madness :mrgreen: .

Re: Only Toasters On The 12 Strings

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 3:52 am
by rowboat
I prefer Hi-Gains on the current 330/12, given it has the solid centre block construction.
Tried the toasters and did not really like them on the 330/12. I am sure the factory have the combination correct, tuning the output tone of the Hi-Gains pickups to suit the extra sustain and different mid-range.
Acoustically the 330/12 is in a different sonic space.

The cross braced 1993+ and 360/12C63 have less sustain but more resonance, the toasters work best on these.

I have never tried the 660/12 which has the toasters on a solid body and the different 12 string adjustment bridge. The 620/12 - Hi-Gains on a solid body

Happy with the 1993+ just all round excellence.

The collection grows quickly. :mrgreen:

Re: Only Toasters On The 12 Strings

Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2019 8:21 pm
by jakeisjake
I've always heard this...

I had a 330-6 with Toasters and a 620-12 with hi gains and switched them. After a couple of weeks, I switched them back.